¶ Vith these & suche wordys as I haue you tolde
¶ By good perseueraunce vttred in this wyse.
¶ Vertu hym remembred & gan to vexe bolde.
¶ And sayd yeue trew knyghtis to rescu I auyse
¶ Let vs no lengar tary from this entrepryse.
¶ Agayn to the felde soo Vertu retourned.
¶ That caused hem be mery that long afore had morned

¶ Auaunt baner quod he in the name of Iesu
¶ And with that his people set vp a gret shoute.
¶ And cryed with a loude voce a Vertu a Vertu.
¶ Then began Vyce his hoost for to loke a boute.
¶ But I trow perseueraunce was not long withoute
¶ He bathed his swerd in his foos blood.
¶ The boldest of hem all not ones hym withstoode.

¶ Constaunce hym folowed & brought hym his spere
¶ But when perseueraunce saw Vyce on his stede.
¶ No man coude hym let tyll he came there.
¶ For to byd hym ryde I trow it was no nede.
¶ All Vertu his oost prayed for his good spede.
¶ Agayn Vyce he rode with his grete shaft.
¶ And hym ouerthrew for all his sotyll craft.

¶ That seyng Frewill came to conscyence.
¶ And gan hym to repente that he with hym had be.
¶ Prayeng hym of counsell for his grete offence.
¶ That he agayn Vertu had made his arme.
¶ What was best to doo to humylyte:
¶ Quod conscyence must thou go so he hym thyder sent
¶ Dysguysed that he were not knowen as he wente.

¶ And whan he thyder came humylyte hym toke.
¶ A token & bad hym go to conffessyon.
¶ And shew hym his mater with a peteous loke
¶ Whiche done he hym sent to contrycyon.
¶ And fro thensforthe to satysfaccyon.
¶ Thus fro poost to pyler was he made to daunce.
¶ And at the last he went forthe to penaunce.

¶ But now for to tel you when Vyce was ouerthrow
¶ A gret part of his oost about hym gan resorte.
¶ But he was so febyll that he coude noman know.
¶ And whan they se that they knew no comforte.
¶ But caryed hym away be a preuy porte.
¶ And as they caryed dyspeyre with hym met.
¶ With Vyce his rewarde he cam theym for to fet

¶ Then came there downe goodly ladyes tweyn.
¶ From the hyghe heuen aboue the fyrmamente.
¶ And sayd the gret Alpha & Oo moost souereyn.
¶ For that nobell tryumphe had hem thyder sent.
¶ One of hem to dryue Vyce to grete tormente.
¶ With a fyry strong that she bare in her hande.
¶ And so he dede dyspere & all his hole bande.

¶ The name of this lady was called Prestyence.
¶ She neuer left Vyce ne none that wolde hym folow.
¶ Tyll they were commytted by the dyuyne sentence.
¶ All to payne perpetuell & Infynyte sorow.
¶ Right wysnes went to se that noman shold hem borow.
¶ Thus al entreted sharpely were they tyll Cerberus
¶ Had hem beshut within his gates tenebrus.

¶ And all the whyle that Prestyence with her scorge smert
¶ To rewarde Vyce gan her thus occupy.
¶ With all his hole bende after her desert.
¶ That other gloryous lady that came fro heuen on hy.
¶ Hauyng in her honde the palme of vyctory.
¶ Came downe to Vertu & toke hym to that present.
¶ Sayeng thus that Alpha & Oo hath hym sent.

¶ And as ferre as I ryght coude vnderstonde
¶ That ladyes name was Predestynacyon.
¶ Vertu & his oost she blessyd with her honde.
¶ And in heuyn graunted hem habytacyon.
¶ Whereto eche of hem reseruyd was a crowne.
¶ She sayd in token that they enherytours.
¶ Of the glory were & gracious conquerours.

¶ Wych done the ladyes ayen to gyder met
¶ And towarde heuen vp they gan to fly
¶ Embraced in armes as they had ben knyt.
¶ Togyder with a gyrdyl but so sodenly.
¶ As they were vanysshyd saw I neuer thyng with ey.
¶ And anone Vertu wyth al his company.
¶ Kneled dounn & thanked god of that vyctory.

¶ Yet had I forget whan Vyce was ouerthrow.
¶ To haue told you hou many of Vycys hoost.
¶ Gan to seke pease & darked dounn ful low.
¶ And besought mercy what so euer it coste.
¶ To be her mene to Vertu els they were but lost.
¶ And some in lyke wyse to feyth & hope sought.
¶ What to do for pease they sayd they ne roughte.

¶ Some also Baptym sewed to be her mene.
¶ Som to one som to other as thei hem gete myghte.
¶ But al to Confessyon went to make hem clene
¶ And as they came to consyence he theym bad go lyghte.
¶ Er than old attropes of hem had a syght.
¶ For yf he so theym toke lost they were for euer
¶ He sayd Vyce to forsake better late thyn neuer.

¶ Som eke for socour drew to circumcision.
¶ But by hym coud they gete but smal fauoure.
¶ For he in that company was had but in derysyon
¶ Neuerthelesse to feyth he bad hem go laboure.
¶ Prayng theym for olde acqueyntance theym socoure
¶ Wel quod feth for his sake I shal do that I may doo
¶ But fyrste for the best way baptym go ye to.

¶ For by hym sonest shal ye recouer grace.
¶ Which shal to Vertu bryng you by processe.
¶ Wherfore in ony wyse loke ye make good face.
¶ And let noman know of your heuynes.
¶ So they were by baptym brought out of destres
¶ Turned al to Vertu & whan this was done.
¶ Vertu cummaunded Frewyl before hym come.

¶ To whom thus he sayd I haue grete merueyl
¶ Ye durst be so bold Vyces party to take.
¶ Who bad you do so & yaue you that counseyl.
¶ Iustly vnto that ye shal me preuy make.
¶ Then sayd Frewyll & swemfully spake.
¶ Knelyng on his kne wyth a chere benygn.
¶ I pray you syr let pyte your eres to me enclyne.

¶ And I shall yow tel the verrey soth of all.
¶ How it was & who made me that way drawe.
¶ For soth sensualyte his propre name they call.
¶ A sayd reason then I know wel that felowe.
¶ Wyld he is & wanton of me stant hym none awe.
¶ Is he so quod Vertu wel he shall be taught.
¶ As a player shuld to draw another draught.

¶ And with that came sadnesse wyt his sober chere.
¶ Bryngyng Sensualite beyng ful of thought.
¶ And sayd that he had take hym prysonere.
¶ A welcome sayd Vertu now haue I that I sought.
¶ Blessed be the good lord as thou wold it is nought
¶ Why arte thou so wanton he sayd for shame.
¶ Or thou go at large thou shalt be more tame.

But stond a part a whyle tyl I haue spoke a word
¶ Wyth Frewyl a lytyl & then shalte thou knowe.
¶ What shalbe thy fynaunce & then he sayd in bord
¶ Vnto Frewyl the bend of your bowe.
¶ Begynnyth to slake but suche as ye haue sowe
¶ Must nedes repe there is none waye.
¶ Notwythstondyng that lette what ye can saye.

¶ What is your habilite me to recompense.
¶ For the grete harme that ye to me haue do.
¶ Forsoth sayd Frewyll in open audyence.
¶ But oonly Macrocosme more haue I not loo.
¶ Take that yf it pleyse you I wyl that it be soo.
¶ Yf I may vnderstond ye be my good lorde.
¶ In dede sayd Vertu to that wyll I accorde.

¶ Then made Vertu Reason his leyftenaunte.
¶ And yaue him a grete charge macrocosme to kepe
¶ That done Sensualite yeld hym recreaunte.
¶ And began for anger bytterly to wepe.
¶ For he demed surely hys sorowe shold not slepe
¶ Then made Vertu Frewyll bayl vnder Reason.
¶ The feld for to ocupy to his behoue that season.

¶ And then sayd Vertu to Sensualyte.
¶ Thou shalt be rewarded for thy besynesse.
¶ Vnder this furme al fragylyte
¶ Shalt thou forsake both more and lesse.
¶ And vnder the guydyng thou shalt be of sadnesse.
¶ All though it somwhat be agayn thy herte.
¶ Thy Iugements gyuen thou shalt it not asterte.

¶ And evyn with that came in dame Nature.
¶ Sayeng thus to Vertu syr ye do me wronge.
¶ By duresse & constreynt to put this creature.
¶ Gentyll Sensualyte that hath me serued longe.
¶ Clerely from his lyberte & set hym amonge.
¶ Theym that loue hym not to be her vnderloute.
¶ As it were a cast away or a sho cloute.

¶ And perde ye know well a rewle haue I must
¶ Wythin Macrocosme forsoth I say not nay.
Quod Vertu but sensualyte shal not perform your lust
¶ Lyke as he hath do befor this yf I may.
¶ Therfro hym restreyn sadnesse shal assay.
¶ How be it ye shal haue your hole lyberte.
¶ Wythin Macrocosme as ye haue had fre.

¶ And whan Vertu had to Nature sayd thus
¶ A lytyll tyne his ey castyng hym besyde.
¶ He se in a corner stondyng Morpleus
¶ That hym before warned of that berely tyde.
¶ A syrs sayd Vertu yet we must abyde.
¶ Here is a frend of ours may not be forgete.
¶ After his deserte we shall hym entreate

¶ Morpleus sayd Vertu I thanke you hertely
¶ For your trew herte & your grete laboure.
¶ That ye lyst to come to me soo redely.
¶ Whan ye vnderstood the comyng of that shoure.
¶ I thanke god & you of sauyng of myn honour.
¶ Wherfore this preuylege now to you I grant
¶ That within Macrocosme ye shall haue your haunt

¶ And of fyue posternes the keys shall ye kepe.
¶ Lettyng in & out at hym whome ye lyst.
¶ As long as in Macrocosme your fader wyll crepe.
¶ Blere whos ey ye wyll hardely with your myst
¶ And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst
¶ Saaf I wold desyre you spare Pollucyon.
For no thyng may me plese the souneth to corrupcyon.

¶ And whan he had thus sayd the keyes he hym toke.
¶ And toward his castell with his people went
¶ Byddyng reason take good hede & about loke
¶ That sensualite by Nature were not shent.
¶ Kepe hym short he sayd tyll his lust be spent
¶ For better were a chylde to by vnbore
¶ Than let hym haue the wyll & foreuer be lore.

¶ And whan olde Attropos had seen & herd all this
¶ How Vertu had opteyned astonyed as he stood.
¶ He sayd to hymselfe somwhat there is amys.
¶ I trow well my patent be not all good.[2]
¶ Sayeng to the goddys I see ye do but iape.
¶ After a worthy whew haue ye made me gape.

¶ How a deuyll way sholde I Vertue ouerthrow.
¶ When he dredeth not all your hole route.
¶ How cam ye make good your patent wold I know
¶ Hit is to Impossable to bryng that aboute.
¶ For stryke hym may I not that is out of doute.
¶ A good Attropos sayd god Apollo.
¶ An answere conuenyent shall thou haue herto.

¶ The wordes of thy patent dare I well say
¶ Stretche to no forther but were dame Nature
¶ Hath Iurysdyccyon there to haue the way Nota.
¶ And largesse to stryke as longet to thy cure.
¶ And as for Vertu he his no cryature.
¶ Vnder the predycament conteyned of quantyte
¶ Wherefore his dystruccyon longeth not to the.

¶ A ha sayd Attropos then I see well.
¶ That all ye goddys be but counterfete.
¶ For oo God there is that can euerydell.
¶ Tourne as hym lest bothe drye & whete.
¶ In to whoos seruyce I shal assay to gete.
¶ And yf I may ones to his seruyce come.
¶ Your names shal be put to oblyuyone.

¶ Thus went Attropos fro the paleys wrooth.
¶ But in the mene tyme whyle that he there was.
¶ Glydyng by the paleys resydyuacyon gooth.
¶ Towarde Macrocosme with a peynted fase.
¶ Clad lyke a pylgryme walkyng a grete pase.
¶ In the forme as he had ben a man of ynde.
¶ He wede haue made reson & sadnesse both blynde

¶ With sensualyte was he soone aqueynted.
¶ To whome he declared his mater pryuely.
¶ Yet he was espyed for all his face peynted.
¶ Then reson hym commauded pyke hym thens lightly.
¶ For his ease quod sadnesse so counseyll hym wyll I.
¶ Soo was sensualyte ay kepte vnder foote.
¶ That to resydyuacyon myght he doo no boote.

¶ Then went he to Nature & asked her auyse.
¶ His entent to opteynde what was best to doo.
¶ She sayd euer syth Vertu of vyce wan the pryse.
¶ Reson with sadnesse hath rewled the felde soo.
¶ That I & sensualyte may lytyll for the doo.
¶ For I may noo more but oonly kepe my cours.
¶ And yet is sensualyte strenger kept & wours.

¶ Thus heryng resydiuacon fro thens he went ageyn
¶ Full of thought & sorow that he myght not spede.
¶ Than reson & sadnesse toke wedehokes tweyn.
¶ And all wylde wantonesse out the felde gan wede.
¶ With all the slyper grasse that grewe of the sede.
¶ That sensualyte before therin sew.
¶ And fro thens forth kept it clene for vertew

¶ Than began new grase in the felde to spryng.
¶ All vnlyke that other of colour fayr & bryght.
¶ But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng.
¶ For the grounde of the felde gan wex hore & whyt.
¶ I coude not conceyue how that be myght.
¶ Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know.
¶ But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow

Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow.
¶ And reson with sadnesse therof had goueraunce.
¶ Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew.
¶ To know yf it were guyded to his plesaunce.
¶ Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penaunce.
¶ And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede.
¶ And bad hym to his power helpe where he se nede

While that felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse.
¶ Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might
¶ Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse.
¶ Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght.
¶ Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light.
¶ Or ellis where myght fynde ryghtwysnesse.
¶ Forsothe sayd reyson I trow as I gesse.

¶ At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde.
¶ If ye lyst the laboure thyder to take.
¶ And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde.
¶ The next wey to the lord of lyght I vndertake.
¶ So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make.
¶ To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght.
¶ Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght.

¶ What sad ryghtwysnesse thou olde dotyng foole.
¶ Whome hast thou seruyd syth the worlde began
¶ But oonly hym where hast thou go to scole.
¶ Whethery art thou double or elles the sam man.
¶ That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than.
¶ I praye you hertely holde me excused.
¶ I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused.

¶ Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow.
¶ Knowest not thy mayster thy name shal I chaunge
¶ Dethe shalt thou be caled from hens forward now
¶ Among all the peple that shal be had straunge.
¶ But whan thou begynnest to make thy chalaunge.
¶ Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become.
¶ And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome.

¶ And as for theym whome thou dedest serue.
¶ For as moche as they presume on hem to take.
¶ That hygh name of god they shal as they deserue
¶ Therfore be rewarded I dare vndertake.
¶ Wyth payn perpetual among fendes blake.
¶ And her names shall be put to oblyuyon.
¶ Among men but it be in dyrysyon.

¶ Aha sayd Attropos now begynne I wex glad.
¶ That I shal thus auenged of hem be.
¶ Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad.
¶ Yee quod ryghtwysnesse here what I say to the.
¶ The lorde of lyght sent the worde by me.
¶ That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take
¶ wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make

¶ And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood
¶ He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be
¶ And euen forth with he commaunded presthood
¶ To make hym redy the felde for to se
¶ So thyder went presthode with benygnyte
¶ Conueyening thyder the blessyd sacrament
¶ Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent

¶ Confessyon contrycyon and satysfaccyon (nota
¶ Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce
¶ Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon
¶ All these thyder came and also penaunce
¶ As her dewte was to make purueaunce
¶ Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde
¶ Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde

¶ Reason with sadnesse dyde his dylygence
¶ To clense the felde within and without
¶ And whan they se the bodely presence
¶ Of that holy Eukaryst lowly gan they lout
¶ So was that lorde receyued out of dout
¶ With all humble chere debonayre & benygne
¶ Lykly to pleasure it was a grete sygne

¶ Then came to the felde the mynyster fynall
¶ Called holy vnccyon with a crysmatory
¶ The fyue hye wayes in especyall
¶ Therof he anoynted & made hit sanctuary
¶ Whome folowed deth whiche wolde not tary
¶ His feruent power there to put in vre
¶ As he was commaunded grauntyng dame Nature

¶ Nota.

¶ He toke his darte called his mortall launce
¶ And bent his stroke towarde the feldes herte
¶ That seyng preesthode bad good remembraunce
¶ Towarde the felde tourne hym & aduerte
¶ For except hym all vertues thense must sterte
¶ And euen with that dethe there sesyne toke
¶ And then all the company clerely hit forsoke

¶ And as soone as dethe thus had sesyne take
¶ The colour of the felde was chaunged sodeynly
¶ The grasse therin seere as though it had be bak
¶ And the fyue hygh wayes were mured vpon hy
¶ That fro thensforwarde none entre shold therbi
¶ The posternes were also without lette
¶ Bothe inwarde & outwarde fyne fast shette

¶ Whiche done sodeynly dethe vanysshed a way
¶ And Vertu exalted was aboue the fyrmament
¶ Where he toke crowne of glory that is ay
¶ Preparate by Alpha & oo omnypotent
¶ The swete frute of macrocosme thyder with hym went
¶ And on all this mater as I stood musyng thus
¶ Agayn fro the felde to me came Morpleus

¶ Sayeng thus what chere how lyketh the this fyght
¶ Haste thou seen ynough or wyll thou see more
¶ Nay syr I sayd my trouthe I you plyght
¶ This is suffycyente yf I knew wherfore
¶ This was to me shewed for therof he lore
¶ Coueyte I to haue yf I gete myght
¶ Folow me quod he and haue thy delyght

¶ Soo I hym folowed tyll he had me brought
¶ To a foresquare herber walled round aboute
¶ Loo quod Morpleus here maist thou that thou sought
¶ Fynde yf thou wyll I put the out of doute
¶ A lytyll whyle we stood styll there withoute
¶ Tyll wytte chyef porter of that herber gate
¶ Requyred by stodye lete vs in there ate

¶ But whan I came in meruayled gretly
¶ Of that I behelde & herde reporte
¶ For fyrst in a chayre apparaylled royally
¶ There sate dam doctryne her childern to exorte
¶ And about her was many a sondry sorte
¶ Some wyllyng to lerne dyuerse scyence
¶ And some for to haue perfyte intellygence

¶ Crowned she was lyke an Emperesse
¶ With .iii. crownes standyng on her hede on by
¶ All thyng about her an Infynyte processe
¶ Were to declare I tell you certaynly
¶ Neuerthelesse some in mynde therof haue I
¶ Whiche I shall to you as god wyll yeue me grace
¶ As I sawe & herde tell in short space

¶ Fast by Doctryne on that one syde
¶ As I remembre sate holy Texte
¶ That opened his mouthe to the people wyde
¶ But not in comparyson to Glose that sate nexte.
¶ Moralyzacyon with a cloke contexte
¶ Sate & Scrypture was scrybe to theym all
¶ He sate ay wrytyng of that that sholde fall

¶ These were tho that I there knewe
¶ By no maner waye of olde acqueyntaunce
¶ But as I before saw theym with Vertewe
¶ Company in felde & hauyng dalyaunce
¶ And as I thus stood halfe in a traunce
¶ Whyle they were occupyed in her besynesse
¶ Aboute the walles myn ey gan I dresse

¶ Where I beheld the meruaylous story
¶ That euer I yet sawe in ony pycture
¶ For on tho walles was made memory
¶ Syngulerly of euery creature
¶ That there had byn bothe forme & stature
¶ Whoos names reherse I wyll as I can
¶ Bryng theym to mynde in ordre euery man

¶ Fyrst to begynne there was in portrature
¶ Adam & Eue holdyng an apell rounde
¶ Noe in a shyp & Abraham hauyng sure
¶ A flyntstone in his honde & Isaac lay bounde
¶ On an hyghe mounte Iacob slepyng sounde
¶ And a long ladder stood besyde
¶ Ioseph in a Cysterne was also there that tyde.

¶ Next whom stode Moyses with his tables two
¶ Aaron and Vrre his armes supportynge
¶ Ely in a brennyng chare was there also.
¶ And Elyze stode clad in hermytes clothynge.
¶ Dauyd wyth an harpe and a stone slynge.
¶ Isaye Ieremy and Ezechyell.
¶ And closed wyth Lyons holy Danyell.

¶ Abacuc Mychee with Malachy.
¶ And Ionas out of a whales body comynge.
¶ Samuel in a Temple & holy zachary.
¶ Besyde an aulter all blody stondynge.
¶ Osee wyth Iudyth stood there conspyryng.
¶ The deth of Dioferne & Salamon.
¶ A chylde wyth hys swerde dyuydynge in two.

¶ Many mo prophetes certeynly there were.
¶ Whoos names now come not to my mynde:
¶ Melchysedech also I espyed there.
¶ Brede & wyne offryng as fell to his kynde.
¶ Ioachym & Anna stode al behynde.
¶ Embraced in armes to the golden gate.
¶ And holy Iohan Baptyst in desert sat.

¶ And now comyth to my remembrunce.
¶ I am auysed I saw Sodechy:
¶ And Amos also with sober countenaunce.
¶ Stondyng wyth her faces towarde Sophony.
¶ Neemy & Esdras bare hem companye.
¶ The holy man Iob as an Impotente.
¶ Then folowed in pycture wyth Thoby pacyent

¶ Thyse wyth many mo on that one syde.
¶ Of that grene herber portrayed were.
¶ A sayd Morpleus a lytyll tyme abyde.
¶ Turn thy face where thy backe was ere.
¶ And beholde well what thou seeste there.
¶ Than I me turned as he me badde.
¶ With herte stedfaste & countenaunce sadde.

¶ Where I sawe Peter wyth his keyes stonde.
¶ Poule wyth a swerde and Iames also.
¶ Wyth a scalop & Thomas holdyng in his honde
¶ A spere and Phylyp aproched hym to:
¶ Iames the lesse nexte hem in pycture too.
¶ Stode wyth Bartylmew whych was all flayn
¶ Symon & Thadee shewed how they were slayn

¶ Mathy and Barnabe drawyng lottys stode
¶ Nexte whome was Marke a Lyon hym by.
¶ Hys boke holdyng & Mathew in his mode.
¶ Resembled an aungell wyth wyngys gloryously.
¶ Luke had a calfe to holde his boke on hye.
¶ And Iohan wyth a cuppe & palme in his honde.
¶ An Egle bare his book thus saw I hem stonde

¶ Gregory and Ierome Austyn and Ambrose.
¶ Wyth pyllyons on ther hedes stode lyke doctors
¶ Bernard wyth Amselme and as I suppose.
¶ Thomas of alquyne and Domynyk confessours.
¶ Benet and Hew relygyous gouernours.
¶ Martyn & Iohan with bysshops tweyne.
¶ Were there also and Crysostom certayne.

¶ Behynd all thyse was worshypfull Bede.
¶ All behynde and next hym stood Orygene.
¶ Hydynge his face as he of his dede.
¶ Had hem ashamed ye wote what I mene.
¶ For of errour he was not al clene.
¶ And on that syde stode laste of alle.
¶ The noble prophetyssa Sybell men her call.

¶ Let me remembre now I you pray
¶ My barayn is so thynne I deme in my herte
¶ Some of the felyshyp that I there say.
¶ In all this whyle to haue ouersterte.
¶ A benedicite none coude I aduerte.
¶ To thynke on Andrew the apostle with his crosse.
¶ Whome to forgete were a grete losse.

¶ Many one were peynted on that wall.
¶ Whoos names come not to my remembraunce.
¶ But thyse I marked in especyall.
¶ And moo coude I tell in countenaunce.
¶ Of tyme but forth to shewe you the substaunce.
¶ Of this mater in the myndys of that arbere.
¶ Sat Doctryne coloured as ony crystall clere.

¶ Crowned as I tolde you late here before.
¶ Whoos apparayl wos worth tresour Infynyte
¶ All erthly rychesse count I no more.
¶ To that in comparyson valewyng then a myte.
¶ Ouer her hede houed a culuer fayr & whyte.
¶ Out of her byll proceded a grete leme.
¶ Downward to Doctryne lyke a sonne beme

¶ The wordes of Doctryne yaue grete redolens
¶ In swetnesse of sauour to her dyscyples al.
¶ It fer exceded myr & frankencense.
¶ Or ony other tre spyce or els galle.
¶ And whan she me espyed anone she gan me cal.
¶ And commaunded morpleus that he shold bryng me nere
¶ For she wold me hew the effect of my desyre.

¶ She sayd I know the cause of thy comyng.
¶ Is to vnderstond be myn enformal yon.
¶ Sensyble the mater of morpleus his shewynge
¶ As he hath the led about in vesyon.
¶ Wherfore now I apply thy natural reason.
¶ Vnto my wordes & or thou hens wend.
¶ Thou shalt it know begynnyng and ende.

¶ For whan Colus to pluto was broughte:
¶ By hys owne neclygence taken prysonere.
¶ Wythin the erth for he so fer foughte.
¶ Sygnyfed is no more be that matere.
¶ But only to shew the how it doth appere:
¶ That welth vnbrydeled at thyn eye.
¶ Enbraseth mysrewle and oft causyth foly.

¶ For lyke as Colus beyng at his large
¶ Streyted hymself thrugh his own lewdenesse
¶ For he wolde deele where he had no charge
¶ Ryght soo wantons by her wyldenesse
¶ Oftesythe bryng hymselfe in dystresse
¶ Because they sometyme to largely deele
¶ What may wors be suffred than ouermykell weele

¶ By Mynos the Iuge of hell desparate
¶ May be vnderstonde goddys ryghtwysnes
¶ That to euery wyght his payne deputate
¶ Assygneth acordyng to his wyckednes
¶ Wherfore he is called Iuge of cruelnes
¶ And as for Dyana & Neptunus compleynte
¶ Fygured may be fooles reason feynt.

¶ For lyke as they made her suggestyon
¶ To haue me Colus from cours of hys kynde
¶ Which was Impossyble to bryng to correccyon
¶ For euermore hys lyberte haue wyll the wynde
¶ In lyke wyse fooles other whyle be blynde
¶ Wenyng to subdew with her one honde
¶ That is ouermykell for all an hole londe

¶ But what foloweth therof that shall thou here
¶ When they were come to the bankete
¶ The grete Apollo with his sad chere
¶ Soo fayre & curtously gan theym entret
¶ That he made her beerdys on the new gete
¶ Loo what wysdome dooth to a foole
¶ Wherefore are children put to scoole